Chattahoochee River - Gold Branch - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Chattahoochee River - Gold Branch |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Georgia |
| Nearby Town: | Marietta |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | From northbound US 19 and GA 400 Take exit 6 - Northridge Road. Stay in right lane merging onto Dunwoody Place, go 1.3 miles. Turn right at Roswell Road, go 0.6 miles. Turn left at Azalea Drive, go 1.7 miles. Turn left at Willeo Road, go 1.4 miles. Turn left at Lower Roswell Road, go 0.7 mile to park entrance on the left. |
| Total Hike Distance: | 1.60 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Easy to Moderate |
| Permit Required: | No |
| Hike Type: | Roundtrip, Loop Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | Gold Branch Parking Area |
| Trails Used: | Gold Branch Trail |
| Backcountry Campsites: | No |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Streams, Rivers |
| Management: | National Park Service |
| Contact Information: | Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area 1978 Island Ford Parkway Sandy Springs, GA 30350 678-538-1273 Non-emergency Number |
| Best Season: | Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall |
| Users: | Hikers, Dogs |
| Road Conditions: | Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads, High Clearance Vehicle Recommended |
| Hike Summary: | This hike to the Chattahoochee River is from the Gold Branch parking area off Lower Roswell Road near Marietta, GA. The route starts in the northwestern corner of the park and descends down to a small stream in a hardwood forest. From here, you can hike either in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to reach the river. Either way you will eventually walk along Bull Sluice Lake - which is a body of water on the northern end of the park. It is almost entirely cut off from the main flow of river with only a narrow passage connecting Bull Sluice Lake with the Chattahoochee. Hiking clockwise takes you to the lake in under 30 minutes. The entire Gold Branch loop is around five miles, but if you are short on time or energy there are a number of smaller loops in the park (see map). This gives you a number of options ranging from 1-5+ miles in the Gold Branch area. The trail is close to the cities of Marietta and Roswell - so don't expect much privacy here - but for being so close to the city, this is a really nice and scenic hike. |
Recommended
Trip Reports
| Date | Rating | Duration | Hiker | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
December 19, 2020 | |
1 hour | BirdShooter |
|
February 20, 2017 |  |
1 hour | BirdShooter |
One reply on “Chattahoochee River - Gold Branch - Member Hike”
There’s been a few changes at the trailhead since I last hiked here. There is still a fee to hike here ($5), but you now must scan a code at the trailhead with your smartphone and pay electronically – after you set up an account. Also, the national park service had numerous signs restricting parking to the designated lot – which isn’t very big. If you come here on a weekend, you may have to wait for someone to leave before you find parking.